LMS and Gradebook Sync Setup Guide for Blackboard Learn 1.3

Packback is compatible for integration with most Learning Management System (LMS) platforms, including Blackboard, Canvas, D2L, and Moodle. This article lays out how to go about setting up your Learning Management System with Packback and our Gradebook Sync feature.

This article will cover the entire setup flow across the following steps: 

• Adding the Packback Tool/Link To Your Learning Management System
• Connecting Your Learning Management System Course to Packback
• Turning on Gradebook Sync

Follow along with instructions below to learn how you can go about enabling the Packback integration in Blackboard. 

Step-by-Step Instructions for How to Add Packback to Blackboard

1. Navigate to the Courses tab on the left side of your Blackboard Learn main page and select the course where you want to add Packback.
2. At the very top of the side panel, click the + icon and select Content Area.
3. In the field that appears, enter "Packback" as the name and select Available to Users to make the content visible.
   
4. Click Submit.
5. In the side panel, click on Content and ensure that Edit Mode is on.
   
6. Now it's time to add the Packback tool link!
7. Click on Build Content and then find and select Packback or Packback Content Selection in the list of tools. 
   
   (Not seeing Packback in your list of tools? Follow the steps below) 
   1. Click on Web Link
   2. Name the link Packback and enter the following URL: https://lms-api.packback.co/lti/launch 
   3. Check the box next to "This link is to a Tool Provider."
   4. Leave Enable Evaluation set to No and click Submit

8. Name the tool "Packback Community Link" and click Save.

   Note: It's not necessary to enable evaluation for this setup, as the grading will be managed through separate columns in Blackboard, not directly via this link.

9. Click on the newly created Packback tool link to begin the community connection process.

Connecting Your Learning Management System Course to Packback

1. Once you've clicked on the newly created Packback tool, you will see the Learning Management System Setup Wizard.
2. Click Connect next to the community you’d like to connect your LMS course to. 
   
3. To complete the LMS setup process, simply verify that the connection information is correct and Confirm Connection.
4. Your course is now connected to its Packback community!

For more information on enabling Gradebook Sync and setting up assignments, please refer to Turning On Gradebook Sync and Adding Assignments in Packback

Already created a Packback community but don’t see it? It’s possible you created the community under a different email address than is logged into your Learning Management System. In this case, please reach out to our Support team for assistance. You can contact us via email at help@packback.co. 

Still need to create a Packback community to connect to?

1. Click on the newly created Packback link that’s been added to your LMS course. This will initiate the Learning Management System Setup Wizard. 
2. On this page, click Create a New Community and fill out the community details. 
3. Select Save and Continue at the bottom of the page. 

Your course is now connected to its Packback community! 

Turning On Gradebook Sync

If you are hoping to have Packback sync to the gradebook built within Blackboard Learn for LTI 1.3, here are the step-by-step instructions for how to accomplish that!

1. In your LMS, click the Packback link to access your community.
2. Before you can initiate Gradebook Sync, make sure to confirm that you have your community posting deadlines and grading requirements are set up. If you still need to do so, you can follow our instructions for setting up your grading requirements here
3. Once you’ve confirmed that, you’re ready to set up Gradebook Sync! On the left hand side panel of your community, click Gradebook Sync.
   
4. Here you’ll be asked to confirm your assignment deadlines and posting requirements. Take a moment to scroll through to make sure everything looks good!
5. You’ll be asked to set your preferences:
   1. Auto = Packback will do the work for you by automatically syncing your gradebook to your LMS after each deadline you’ve set up has passed
   2. Manual = You will have the autonomy to send your Packback grades to your LMS at your discretion! 
6. After setting your Gradebook Sync preferences, confirm that everything looks good and click Save Changes.

How does Packback create a grade in my LMS gradebook?

Auto Gradebook Sync

Packback does the work for you! When a deadline passes, our system pushes the grades from your Packback community gradebook into a new column we import to your LMS gradebook. It’s as simple as that! 

Manual Gradebook Sync

Whenever you’re ready to sync gradebooks, go to your Packback community gradebook by clicking View Gradebook button on the left-hand side panel.

At the top of your gradebook you'll see a Sync Grades button. Click that to initiate the sync. This will create a column for that grading period in your LMS gradebook and will keep everything up-to-date.

Will a student’s grade still sync if they don’t access Packback through the LMS?

Students should only access their community through their LMS. If they are doing so externally (directly through the Packback site), the LMS will be unable to recognize the work they've done.

As long as they are doing that, their grades should be reflected in your LMS gradebook the same way they do in the Packback gradebook when a sync is initiated. 

Having trouble?

If you are running into issues with the above instructions or just have a question, please reach out to our Support Team at help@packback.co.